Textile sliver coiler



Nov. 19, 1968 J R. WHITEHVURST TEXTILE SLIVER COILER 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OQt- 21, 1965 awaa "I INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 1968 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,411,189

TEXTILE SLIVER COILER Filed Oct. 21, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORZ Joe WHITE HmzsT ATTORNEYS 1963 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,411,189

TEXTILE SLIVER COILER Filed Oct. 21, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Z l B INVENTOR:

JOE 12. WHITEHURST ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1968 J. R. WHITEHURSTQ TEXTILE SLIVER COILER 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 35C 56C 32C L 0 25 ZICL INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS 1968 J. R. WHITEHURST 3,411,189

TEXCI'ILE SLIVER COILER Filed Oct. 21, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v 34 F g=11 40b 8% x 25y INVENTOR! JOE- R. WHWEHUEST F 1 -12 wwwww ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1968 .1. R. WHITEHURST TEXTILE SLIVER COILER- 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 24G 25G Q16 INVENTOR:

Joe R. WH1TE.-HLHZ$T United States Patent 3,411,189 TEXTILE SLIVER COILER Joe R. Whitehurst, Bessemer City, N.C., assignor to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Oct. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 499,456 Claims. (Cl. 19-159) ABSTRAQT OF THE DISCLOSURE A textile coiler including a rotatable tube gear element and a supporting element overlying the same, bearing means on the supporting element for suspendingly supporting the entire weight of the tube gear element, and means for stabilizing and maintaining thetube gear element rotating in a concentric manner including an in wardly facing annular trackway carried by one of said elements, with a plurality of spaced rollers cooperatingly engaging the trackway and being carried by the other element.

This invention relates to a textile sliver coiler, and more particularly, to an improved coiler having means for maintaining the tube gear or sliver coiling element concentric with respect to an opening in which it is rotatable.

Coiling mechanisms for packaging textile Sliver in a sliver can are known and widely used, and certain textile sliver coilers include a spectacle plate with a circular opening, a tube gear element rotatable in the opening of the spectacle plate and through which sliver is passed to be laid into a sliver can, and a supporting element such as a cover or spider overlying the sliver coiling element and by which the coiling element is supported for rotation.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide, in a coiling mechanism of the type described, a new and novel means for maintaining the tube gear element concentric With the opening in the spectacle plate during rotation of the tube gear element relative to the spectacle plate.

More specifically, this invention provides, in an improved coiling mechanism of the general type described, a means carried by one of the tube gear element and supporting element for defining an annular radially inwardly facing trackway concentric with the spectacle plate opening and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart rollers carried by the other of the elements and rotatively engaging the trackway for maintaining the tube gear element concentric with the opening.

Further, this invention provides an improved sliver coiling mechanism including a means defining an annular radially inwardly facing trackway and a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers wherein the rotative engagement of the rollers and the trackway is such as to restrain vertical movement of the tube gear element relative to the supporting element overlying the tube gear element.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a first coiling mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view, in section, of the coiler mechanism of FIGURE 1, taken substantially along the line 22 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a second coiling mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a side view, in section, of the coiling "ice mechanism of FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 4-4 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a detail view, in section, of a portion of the coiling mechanism of FIGURE 3, taken substantially along the line 55 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a third coiling mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side view, in section, of the coiling mechanism of FIGURE 6, taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side view, in section, of a portion of a coiling mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a fourth coiling mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 10 is a side view, in section, of the coiling mechanism of FIGURE 9, taken substantially along the line Ill-10 in FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a fifth coiling mechanism embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 12 is a side view, in section, of the coiling mechanism of FIGURE 11, taken substantially along the line 12-12 in FIGURE 11;

FIGURE 13 is a detail view, in section, of a portion of the coiling mechanism of FIGURE 12, taken substantially along the line 1313 in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 is a side view, in section, of a portion of a coiling mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURES 11 and 12;

FIGURE 15 is a side view, in section, of a coiling mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 16 is a side view, in section, of a coiling mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 17 is a side view, in section, of a coiling mechanism similar to that shown in FIGURE 12.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention is there shown as applied to textile sliver coilers, to maintain a tube gear element centrally positioned with respect to a spectacle plate opening in which it is to rotate. In FIGURES 1 and 2, a textile sliver coiler, indicated generally at 20, is shown, Which includes a spectacle plate 21, which may typically be one of the major frame members of the upper portion of the textile sliver coiler, and which has a circular opening 22 therein. A sliver coiling element 24, or tube gear, is positioned within the opening 22 of the spectacle plate, for rotation relative to the spectacle plate, and has a peripheral gear portion 25 and an uprising central portion 26 through which an inclined sliver tube 27 passes.

In typical operation, textile sliver S is compressed between a pair of calender rolls R, positioned above the tube gear element 24, and introduced into the inclined tube 27 for passage therethrough and to be deposited in a sliver can C. The sliver can C is driven in rotation, while the tube gear element 24 is driven at a different rate of rotation through the peripheral gear portion 25, to thereby cause the sliver S to be laid into the can C in a plurality of layers of convolutions, as is the generally known practice.

A support element 30, in the form of a coiler cover, is positioned to overlie and extend above the tube gear element 24, to serve various functions which shall be described in more detail hereinafter. The support element 30 includes a depending portion 31, and rests upon the spectacle plate 21. The support element 30 is thus supported from the spectacle plate 21, and is restrained against lateral displacement relative to the spectacle plate 21 and the opening 22 therein by suitable means, such as a groove 23 formed in the upper surface of the spectacle plate 21 into which the depending portion 31 closely fits.

In order to maintain the tube gear element 24 concentric with respect to the circular opening 22 of the spectacle plate 21 during rotation of the tube gear element 24, and in accordance with the present invention, one of the tube gear element 24 and supporting element 30 is provided with means defining an annular radially inwardly facing trackway concentric with and adjacent to the opening 22. More particularly, the base portion of th tube gear element 24 is provided with such means, indicated generally at 37, in the form of a rim 38 which is formed integrally with the tube gear element 24, and has a radially inwardly facing trackway surface 41. As shown in FIGURE 2, the surface 41 is provided with an inwardly opening circumferential groove 42, positioned above the gear portion 25 of the tube gear element 24. Positioned in the groove 42 is a ring 43, of a suitable plastic material and having a substantially circular cross sectional configuration, which is effective to present a part circular bead at the trackway 41.

The other of the tube gear element 24 and support element 30 carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced roller means, for engaging the trackway and maintaining the sliver coiling element 24 concentric with respect to the spectacle plate opening 22. More particularly, a plurality of roller means (FIGURE 2), indicated generally at 46, are carried by and depend from the support element 30, within the upstanding rim 38. Each of the roller means 46 additionally includes a stub shaft 54, which is constructed and arranged to permit relative lateral adjustment of the roller means 46 with respect to the support element 30, to assure initial and continued central positioning of the tube gear element 24 with respect to the spectacle plate opening 22, More particularly, each stub shaft 54, on which a roller 47 is journaled for rotation, is provided with an eccentric shoulder portion passing through a Suitable bore or opening provided in the support element 30 and permitting adjustment of the center of rotation of the roller 47. The upper end of each shaft 54, appearing at the upper surface of the support element 30, is threaded, and engaged by a nut 60, which may be tightened to lock the roller means 46 in the desired relative lateral position for centering of the tube gear element 24.

It is known in the operation of textile sliver coilers to permit textile sliver to build up within the can receiving the sliver and engage the under or lower surface of the tube gear element. This is typically done in order to increase the length of sliver contained in a can by providing a downward loading force to compact the sliver into the can. However, it is necessary that the quantity of sliver to be placed into the can be limited, so as to avoid excessive friction between the tube gear element and the sliver, which would damage the sliver. In some textile sliver coilers, limitation on the length of sliver to be placed into the can is obtained by measuring the length of sliver fed into the can, and stopping the operation of the textile sliver coiler upon delivery of a predetermined footage of sliver. A preferred method of limitation, which is employed with textile sliver coilers constructed in accordance with this invention, determines the quantity of sliver placed in the can by stopping the delivery of sliver upon upward movement of the tube gear element 24 in response to the presence of a quantity of sliver sufficient to fill the can C and the space between the upper extremity of the can and the bottom of the tube gear element 24. More particularly, in compacting the sliver fed into the can C, a downward loading force is provided by the weight of the support element 30 which, in the form here described (FIGURES 1 and 2), is of a relatively heavy material such as cast iron. Upon passage of a sufficient quantity of sliver into the can C to build up to and engage the lower surface of the tube gear element 24, that element and support element 30 will be raised to apply a downward loading force and ultimately engage a suitable stop motion (not shown) and knock-off or stop the associated textile machine (not shown) from which the sliver S is delivered.

The textile sliver coiler 20, in order to provide the preferred form for limiting the quantity of sliver delivered into the can C, is thus provided not only with means for maintaining the tube gear element 24 centered in the spectacle plate opening 22, within which it must rotate, but is also provided with means for restraining relative vertical movement between the tube gear element 24 and the support element 30. More particularly, the bead formed by the plastic ring 43 is so engaged by a circumferential groove 48 provided on the roller 47 that relative vertical movement between the tube gear element 24 and the support element is restrained. This construction not only permits the desired operation for stopping the associated textile machine upon the delivery of the desired quantity of sliver S, but additionally provides a means for supporting the sliver coiling element 24 above and out of contact with the spectacle plate 21 during normal operation of the machine.

A second form of textile sliver coiler, indicated generally at 20A, is illustrated in FIGURES 3-5, and portions of the sliver coiler 20A functionally similar to previously described portions of the sliver coiler 20 (FIGURES 1 and 2) are identified by similar numerals, with the addition of the postscript A.

The textile sliver coiler 20A (FIGURES 35) is functionally identical and structurally similar to the previously described textile sliver coiler 20 (FIGURES 1 and 2). In distinction, the support element 30A overlying the sliver coiling element 24A is a coiler cover formed of a relatively lightweight material, such as stamped or otherwise formed sheet metal. The support element 30A includes a depending portion 31A having a laterally extending flange portion 32A, and is fixed relative to the spectacle plate 21A by a biasing means indicated generally at 34A.

The biasing means comprises a partially threaded bolt 35A, which is received within a threaded opening in the spectacle plate 21A to fix the support member 30A against lateral displacement relative to the spectacle plate 21A. The portion of the bolt 35A passing through the flange portion 32A of the support element 30A, and extending thereabove, is not threaded, so as to permit the support element 30A to be displaced vertically with respect to the spectacle plate 21A while being retained against lateral displacement. A suitable compression spring 36A is disposed between the head of the bolt 35A and the flange portion 32A of the support element 30A through which the bolt passes. Accordingly, upon upward movement of the support element 30A, the spring 36A is compressed and develops a downward biasing force or loading force comparable to that developed upon upward movement of the support element 30 (FIGURE 2) by virtue of its weight.

In further distinction to the previously described form, the means defining the trackway is formed as a separate ring member 40A, not integral with the sliver coiling element 24A, but secured thereto as by a press-fit or welding adjacent the peripheral gear portion 25A. The ring member 40A includes an integrally formed bead portion 44A, adjacent the upper end of the ring member 40A, which is engaged by a circumferential groove 48A in each of the plurality of roller means 46A.

A further distinction between the coilers 20 and 20A may be found in the roller means 46A. More particularly, the rollers, indicated generally at 47A, are of a composite construction (FIGURE 5) and a support means, indicated generally at 53A, is constructed and adjustable in a different manner. The rollers 47A are formed as a sandwich or lamination of upper and lower reinforcing members 50A, 51A, respectively, which may be of a suitable material such as sheet metal. An intermediate member 52A, in which a circumferential groove 48A is formed, is preferably of a suitable plastic material.

The support means 53A for each roller 47A is constructed and arranged to permit relative lateral adjustment of the position of the roller 47A, to obtain centering of the tube gear element 24A with respect to the opening 22A in the spectacle plate 21A in which that element rotates. More particularly, each roller 47A is supported, by means of a suitable ball bearing, on a shaft 55A, for rotation relative thereto. The shaft 55A is secured, as by a press-fit, within an eccentrically positioned bore in a generally cylindrical member 56A, which is received in the supporting element 30A in a bore defined by a cylindrical member 57A welded therein. The upper extremity of the cylindrical member 56A is threaded, and secured in the desired position by a suitable lock-nut 60A. By rotation of the eccentrically bored member56A, within the bore provided by the cylindrical member 57A, the relative lateral position of the roller 47A with respect to the support member 30A may be adjusted.

The operation of the sliver coiler 20A, with respect to the support of the tube gear element 24A and upward movement thereof upon build-up of sliver within the can C, is substantially the same as that described above.

Another form of textile sliver, indicated generally at 20B is illustrated in FIGURES 6 and 7, and is functionally identical and substantially similar to that described above with reference to FIGURES 3-5. The primary distinction between the textile sliver coiler 20B and textile sliver coiler 20A is with respect to the particular construction of the support element 30B. Support element 30B (FIGURES 6 and 7) takes the form of a spider, rather than a cover which would be effective to entirely shield the tube gear element 24B. More particularly, the support element 30B (FIGURE 6) has three substantially equiangularly extending legs, serving as securing points or locations for the roller means 46B. The supporting element 30B has depending portions 31B with lateral flange portions 32B and is secured against relative lateral displacement with respect to the spectacle plate 21B, while permitting relative vertical displacement, by a biasing means 34B substantially similar to that described above.

A slightly modified form of the textile sliver coiler 20B is illustrated in FIGURE 8. There, the ring member 40B is not provided with an integrally formed bead, but carries an inwardly opening circumferential groove 42B, within which is positioned a ring member 43B of a suitable plastic material. In this form the roller member 47B is formed entirely of a metal material.

A further form of textile sliver coiler, indicated generally at 20C, is illustrated in FIGURES 9 and 10. In similarity to certain previously described forms, the support member 30C is formed as a spider, having depending portions 31C with flange portions 320 and being secured against relative lateral displacement with respect to the spectacle plate 21C, and for relative vertical displacement thereto, by a biasing means 340. In, distinction to the previously described forms, the function of the roller means 46C and means defining the trackway is solely to maintain the tube gear element 24C centered within the spectacle plate opening 220 in which that element is to rotate. More particularly, the integral rim 38C defining the trackway is provided with a facing 45C of a plastic material, providing a substantially right cylindrical inner side surface for engagement by the roller means 46C. The rollers 470 are similarly provided with a substantially right cylindrical contacting surface to engage the facing 45C. The tube gear element 24C is supported against relative vertical movement with respect to the supporting element 30C by means of a suitable bearing 62C, such as a ball bearing, having an outer race secured to the supporting element 30C and an inner race secured to the uprising central portion 260 of the tube gear element 24C.

The operation of the textile sliver coiler 20C, incorporating this modification, is substantially similar to the .operation of those textile sliver coilers described above.

Another form of textile sliver coiler, indicated generally at 20D, is shown in FIGURES 11-13. In those figures, it may be seen that the support element 30D is generally similar to the support element 30A described above, and similarly includes depending portions 31D by which the supporting element is secured, by a biasing means 34D, to the spectacle 21D. In distinction to the previously described forms, it may be seen that the supporting element 30D carries a means, in the form of a ring 40D, defining a radially inwardly directed trackway while the tube gear element 24D carries a plurality of roller means 46D.

The ring 40D defining the radially inwardly directed trackway is preferably in the form of a circular ring of suitable metallic material, welded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of the depending portions 31D of the supporting element 30D.

As required by the particular positioning of the roller means 46D, the support means 53D of the roller means 46D includes a double angle member 611), one end of which is bolted to the base portion of the sliver coiling element 24D, while the other portion includes a bore through which the circular element 56D extends. Inasmuch as the ring 40D is formed with an integral bead 44D, the rollers 47D (FIGURE 13) are formed similar to rollers 47A (described above with reference to FIG- URE 5).

The operation of the sliver coiler 20D is functionally identical to those described in full detail above.

A modified form of the sliver coiler 20D is illustrated in FIGURE 14. There, the ring 40D defining the radially inwardly directed side surface is provided with circumferential groove 42D in which is positioned a suitable plastic ring member 43D. In this modified form, the rollers 47D are formed entirely of a metal material.

Other modified forms of textile sliver coilers, indicated generally at 20E, 20F, and 20G are illustrated in FIG- URES 15-17. The textile sliver coiler 20E (FIGURE 15) is substantially similar to coiler 20D described above (with reference to FIGURES l1 and 12), with the distinction that the supporting element 30E is formed as a spider, similar to the spider 30B earlier described.

The textile sliver coiler 20F (FIGURE 16) is sub stantially similar to coilers 20C and 20D described above (with reference to FIGURES 10 and 12) with the distinctions being that the supporting element 30F is stamped from lightweight material, and reliance for restraint of relative vertical movement between the sliver coiling element 24F and the supporting element 30F is placed upon a bearing 62F encircling the uprising central portion 26F of the sliver coiling element 24F. In this form, both the rollers 47F, formed of a suitable plastic material, and the ring, 40F are provided with substantially right cylindrical mating surfaces.

In the sliver coiler 20G (FIGURE 17) the rollers 47G are formed of a metallic material, and are provided with a substantially right cylindrical outer surface. The ring 40G is provided with a facing 45G of a suitable plastic material for engagement with rollers 47G. In similarity to textile sliver coilers 20D and 20F described above, the sliver coiling element 246 and supporting element 30G are restrained against relative vertical movement by a top bearing 62G. In this form, the support element 306 is a spider, in similarity to spiders 30B, 1500 described above.

In brief summary, the present invention provides, in a textile sliver coiler, a novel and advantageous means for maintaining a tube gear element concentric with an opening in the spectacle plate within which that element must rotate. This is accomplished by providing, on one of the tube gear and supporting elements, a radially inwardly facing annular trackway and, on the other of those elements, a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers to rotatively engage the trackway. As the trackway is held concentric with and adjacent the spectacle plate opening, the rotative engagement of the rollers and trackway maintains the elements concentric and the tube gear element centered relative to the opening.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a coiling mechanism for packaging textile sliver in a sliver can and having a spectacle plate with a circular opening therein, an integral tube gear element rotatable in said opening, and having a driven peripheral gear portion adjacent its lower extremity and a supporting element overlying said tube gear element and being secured against lateral displacement relative to said spectacle plate; the combination therewith of bearing means carried by said supporting element and supportingly engaging an upper central portion of said tube gear element for suspendingly supporting the entire weight of said tube gear element concentric with said opening during rotation,

means on one of said elements defining an annular trackway positioned below said bearing means concentric with said opening, and

a plurality of circumferentially spaced rollers carried by the other of said elements concentric with said opening and rotatively engaging said trackway for stabilizing said tube gear and thereby aiding in maintaining said tube gear element concentric relative to said opening during rotation thereof.

2. In a coiling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said rollers are carried by said tube gear element and said trackway is carried by said supporting element.

3. In a coiling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said supporting element overlying said tube gear element is a spider, and said trackway is carried by said spider and faces inwardly toward the tube gear,

4. In a coiling mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said rollers are carried by said supporting element and said trackway is on said tube gear element.

5. In a coiling mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said tube gear element has an upstanding annular peripheral portion extending from adjacent said gear portion and terminating a substantial distance above said gear portion, and

wherein said trackway is located on an upper inner portion of said upstanding annular portion of said tube gear element and faces inwardly.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,334,385 8/1967 West et a1. 19159 XR 2,700,797 2/1955 Robinson 19159 2,832,099 4/1958 Jackson 19159 2,866,232 12/1958 West et a1. 19-159 X 2,940,136 6/1960 Scott 19159 2,975,489 3/1961 Whitehurst 19159 2,983,967 5/1961 West et a1 19159 3,169,279 2/1965 Noda 19159 3,271,826 9/1966 Jackson 19159 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,115,623 10/1961 Germany.

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner. 

